Introduction
The following is a report based on a visit to the Constitution Center in Philadelphia from a 20-year-old female international student's perspective. The report expostulates on how the exhibit looks like as well as the legal history of the 19th amendment and its significance.
Discussion
The constitution center in Philadelphia is anon profit and a non-partisanconstitutioncenter that serves as an interactive museum and regularly holds scholars, journalist and government leaders among other individuals. To a 20-year-old female internationalstudent, the 16000 square foot building is an imposing and awe-inspiring one. the building has high tech exhibits,artifactsand also interactive displays. One look at the building and one feels as if he/she is stepping into a very special place which means the world to its people. Inside the building, there are different artifacts that tell about the story of the people. The most outstanding aspect of these artifacts entail the unity in which they portray. Most pictures of people show different people of different races and origins working together to liberate the country. there is even an artifact with the words "it was we, all the people, and not the white males". To a 20-year-old international student, this has the element of ensuring unto her that the founding fathers were not divisive and nor would they wish for the great United Sates to be divided on issues such as race or the origin of a person. the instructiveness of the place also gives one a sense of belong and has the effect of making the international student to feel as one part of the great country which is the united states of America.
The legal history of the19th Amendment
The 19th amendment of the US constitution which provided women with the right to vote was ratified in 1920 on the 18th of august. This law which was known as the "women suffrage" ended years of legal battle for women in the US led by Elizabeth Stanton who led other omen like Susan Anthony to create organizations which championed the rights of women to vote. The constitutional act therefore delivered a landmark ruling to all the women in the US since it gave them the power to determine their leaders and also gave them a voice in congressional matters. In addition, it provided an avenue for women leaders who chose to pursue a political career and served as a backbone through which women in the US would delve into the political landscape("The Nineteenth Amendment", 2016).
Personal significance of the amendment
This amendment touches deeply on me as a woman since it has opened avenues for me as a woman to pursue whatever political office I would wish to go for. In addition, it has enabled women to break the glass ceiling and ended male chauvinism in which women were stereotyped as inferior creatures who could not run for a political office successfully. Further, this amendment created an avenue for women to run for political offices and this led to many women championing for the rights of young girls like myself granting us access to some of the basic rights like equal and fair treatment in schools which led to most of us excelling in our academics and having role models to emulate. Thus, as has been seen in the recent scenario where Hillary Clinton was able to run for office, the 19th amendment has made it possible for me to pursue my goals and push for women rights in any political office and has granted me leverage over my male counterparts.
References
The Nineteenth Amendment. (2016). Law2.umkc.edu. Retrieved 14 November 2016, from
https://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/nineteentham.htm